Did I mention how much I really hate this fucking job?

“Keyome, could you pass me that bucket over there?“ Isabel said to me. She had been washing down one of the rats after herding them all in. I was supposed to be washing them too, but I didn’t much like these things. They disgusted me.

“Here,“ I said sternly to her as I placed the bucket next to her feet.

I looked inside of the ranch, watching as Mr.Nakayama and whomever that big built old guy had been. They were talking it up with one another like they had known one another for a while, or something. Guy was stacked and he wore this cloak that covered up his face. The most I could make out was that Santa beard he was rocking... Big guy made me uneasy. There was a kind of… aura about him. It was an aura that made me feel strange all over. I couldn't put my finger on it. It made me feel kind of small when I was around him. Thankfully, the big guy didn’t hang around long. He paid his credits, took his six rats, and left just as quickly as he had arrived.

“You should smile more. They can tell when you don’t like them, you know.“ Isabel stated blandly to me while she dumped her sponge into the bucket. She continued washing down the right side of one of the beasts.

“Well, they're right. I don’t like them.“ Isabel laughed, shaking her head at my response.

“You city boys, and your hover cars, and your virtual games. You’re not in touch with anything that’s not electronic, are you?” Her tone mocked me.

“You can’t talk, you have a holo-phone too,“ I said matter-a-factly.

“Sometimes, I wonder what it’s like. You know? Living in Kasaihana city...“ Her voice seemed so sweet, so sincere.

“It’s not all it's cracked up to be,“ I said walking forward, sliding my hands into my pockets. I stared up at the dark purple sky, the night time drifted in. The stars flared relentlessly in the distance.

“I mean, you don’t got it too bad out here. Aside from, you know--living in a whole nuclear fallout wasteland--I’d say you have it pretty good! At least you don’t gotta worry about getting mugged every time you leave your house.“ I half-joked at her before looking back over my shoulder.

“Nope, I just gotta be worried about getting mauled by mutated monsters or half dead mundies. No biggie.“ She giggled to herself. 

“I’m glad one of us is having fun.“ I smiled halfheartedly at the sound of her light laughter. As I said this, one of the creatures had the audacity to hiss at me. I took a step back. Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I looked over at the prehistoric clock device on the wall.

“Can’t believe you guys even still have one of those things,“ I said crossing my arms.

“What things?“ Isabel glanced up at me from her duteous washing with an incredulous look on her face or rather oiling.

“That clock thing up there, shit's an antique!“ I said placing down a chair beneath where the clock sat on the wall. Stepping upward, I plucked the device down from its location. I blew the dust off of its surface.

“It’s kind of cute. It even has little hands! I’ve seen some stuff like this back when I was a kid. My pops had tons of stuff like this.“ I spoke and reminisced.

Isabel stood up, stretching, before placing her hands on her hips. She spun around to face me.

“Old New-York has all kinds of stuff like that, to be honest.” She said while taking a moment to catch her breath. Isabel had that same smile on her face that she always had. She was short and plump with the face of an angel. She’s always been pretty insecure about her weight.

I remember before she graduated she would always complain about how none of the guys liked her. And don’t get me started about prom! I’m a grade under her, but I still had to go to prom with a bunch of seniors so she wouldn’t complain about not having a date. I felt like I had to remind her at least ten times or more that this wasn’t a REAL date, though. I know what you’re thinking, but she’s my friend, okay? Don’t get the wrong idea.

“You want to go grab something to eat after work?“ Isabel asked, pulling the gloves off of her hands and untying her apron.

“Why? So, your dad can go on about how you shouldn't be hanging out in District 1 with me? How I'm a bad influence on you? Or how it's too much of a risk to take you there in the first place? Nah, got some plans tonight. Gonna head back out to the Underbelly.“ As soon as I said this, a rat shoe hit me in the back of the head.

“You told me you were done with that, KEYO!” Isabel shouted, but my head was still ringing from the clamp of metal that was just bashed into the back of my skull.

“I AM done! I mean, I’m about to be done. Christ! Did you have to hit me with something metal!?“ I sulked while rubbing the back of my head.

“That’s not the point and you know it. Those fights are dangerous! Remember last time, you got stabbed under your arm! The blade pierced past your ribs and I had to stitch you back up myself. You went on and on about if Yoshi found out you’d been fighting down there. He’d make sure you weren’t accepted into the clan!“ Isabel lectured me. She always lectured me.

“Look, I know what Yoshi’s trying to do, okay? He’s screwing me over. He knows that if I work here to gather the money for the pension and join the clan, it’ll take me, at best, three-four years! He’s waiting for me to take the deal at Neo Washington College so I can join their boxing division. But I’m not falling for that shit! If I do these fights, I’ll get the money by the end of the month. And then I’ll be able to join, no problem.“ I stated my points a clear and concise as possible for her to understand where I was coming from.

Isabel sighed rubbing the bridge of her nose while she shook her head. “Fine, you know what, fine. But guess what else? I’m not covering for you anymore. You’re on your own, bubb.“ She voiced in irritation.

“Oh yeah? “ I smirked, leaning against a wooden post with my arms crossed. My hair hung over my shoulders and danced across my face.

“That’s right. I’m done worrying about you getting hurt out there.“ She said with confidence as she stomped her foot attempting to walk away until…

“C’mon, Issyyy.“ And just like that, she stopped, as if on a dime. I always knew what to say. “I need you to tell my mom that I’m over your house tonight and were studying, same as usual.“ I watched her shoulders loosen. She was giving in before I had even begun trying. “You’re the only person I can depend on. I need your help.“ This was a lie, but having her throw my mom off my trail for a night was always beneficial. The last thing I needed to worry about in that ring was if Yoshi or my Mom had found out what I’d been doing. It'd throw me off my game. Ironically though, this was all a web of lies.

You see, Yoshi is the Oyabun, or rather Boss of the Kagemaru clan. It was one of the five main clans within the Yakuza Branch of the Syndicate. My father, believe it or not, was the head of this clan during his day. Yoshi was my father’s best friend and after my father died the rest of the clan elected him as my father’s successor. Sadly because, I was too young to take the mantel myself.

Kasaihana does things a little bit differently than the original Yakuza clans of old. In terms of ranking and system, I mean. For example, birthright plays a part in a clan’s ruler succession here, kind of like a monarchy. We got the ideas from how those rich fucks structure themselves over in District 2. Although, that’s a topic for another day. Our system works in order like this; Oyabun – Kanbu – Captain – Foot Soldier – Courier/Runner. These ranks are used within each of the five clans within the Yakuza branch of the Kasaihana Syndicate. I’m a runner in the Kagemaru Clan, know what that means? I’m a fucking loser. A nobody. I'm just a fucking delivery boy. Even the foot soldiers can spit on me, and then most of them have or still do. A lot of them felt like my father was never meant to run the Kagemaru clan before Yoshi. So, they resent me because they hate him.

Dear old dad died during falling out between the Kagemaru vs Soramaru clans six years ago. Apparently, during that time, he told Yoshi that if anything were to happen to him, Yoshi should take the Helm of the clan. Never allow me to become a Yakuza. Never let me become a Made-man. However, around my 16th birthday, I told Yoshi of how empty my life had become since my father passed. I wanted to know the truth of his murder. I wanted to bring honor back to our families’ name. I could never do that living the life as a civilian. Well, after a good bit of coaxing and angry begging he allowed me to join after all. But… not without a catch.

You see, to join a Yakuza clan within the Syndicate one has to donate a particular amount of money. Usually, the pension is about 12,000 credits. Yoshi wanted me to work for it. Seeing that he was a Clan Boss, well… he called the shots. He made my pension a big whopping 50,000 credits. And here’s the kicker. He thought it’d be a good idea to hook me up with a job down here outside of town at the goddamn… RAT RANCH! I barely make 100 credits a week here. I could sit down and go into the math details with you about how long it’d take for me to scrounge up 50,000 credits, but even I don’t have time for that.

“You promised me last time was the last time, Keyo. “ Isabel said to me with her back still turned. I remained silent.

“So when’s the last time going to be, huh? How long do you want me to lie for you until you end up dead? And I have to explain to your mother that I was covering for you all these times?“ These words stung a little. A little. Only because she was right.

“I’ve saved up 30,000 credits with these fights. And tonight? Tonight’s the gauntlet.“ As I said this, Isabel turned around with her arms crossed, resting beneath her breast.

“So?“ She said back to me with a disinterested expression plastered on her face.

“Soooo. I can make another 25,000 credits tonight if I go through it.“ I said back to her, pulling my backpack over my shoulder.

“And what exactly is the gauntlet?“ I didn’t want to answer her. I could just… feel the lecture coming on.

“I gotta go through the five levels of the underbelly with a partner. We fight our way to the top. Winner gets the 50k prize. Of course, we have to split it down the middle.“ Isabel looked at me out of the corner of her eye once I’d responded to her.

“It sounds dangerous.“ She said allowing her arms to drop to her waist.

“Fine, I’ll do it. “ She spoke softly.

“Yes!“ I shouted out of excitement.

“BUT! If you get hurt! I’m telling your mom and Yoshi! Whether you win or not. If something happens to you, I refuse to be held responsible.“ She countered, punching me in the arm.

“That’s fair, I can deal with that. “ I’d give her a large hug, my arms wrapping tightly around her waist as I pulled her into me. “Thank you thank you!“ I said, squeezing her as hard as I could! As I did, my nose sunk itself into the strands of her hair. “You’ve been using that shampoo I bought you for your birthday again,“ I said to her, noticing the light scent of strawberries.

“Don’t thank me yet. You’d better make sure this is the last time Keyo.“ She said to me after I’d pulled back from my hug.

“It is. I promise. Have I ever lied to you?“ I said with a sly smirk and slanted eyes.

She’d begin to open her mouth before she could say a thing, I placed a finger to her lips.

“On second thought. Never mind.“ I said as I’d do a light jog over towards my hoverbike. “Hey, Isabel!“ I called to her. Cranking on the bike, allowing the engine to purr, I lifted myself up and onto the seat. “Tomorrow night, we can go out to eat wherever you want after work.“ Her eyes lit up while she watched me ready up on the bike, pulling both of her arms behind her back.

“I’m not going to hold my breath.“ She said tilting her head to the right shaking her head.

“Seeya later!” I said after revving the bike up one more time, taking off into the night air. When I turned back around, I could still see Isabel waving at me from a distance. She waited until I’d been well high enough that I was out of her vision before going inside. Never understood why her father decided to live so far out of the city, but I’m sure it has something to do with what happened during the Kagemaru Soramaru War a few years back. She wanted to live in the city, to be a part of the hustle and bustle. She doesn’t know how easy she has it out here. Away from the cancers of this city, away from the sickness of the industrialized society. Sometimes I wish I was more like her, ignorant of the world around me, always wondering, rather than always knowing. Sure, one could wonder for the worst outcomes, but I’d rather be left in a confusion of wonder than in the cold reality of knowing what’s to come.

What I'd give to be naive.